The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) was introduced to Malaysia in the early 1900's. However, extensive cultivation was not carried out until the 1960's. Today, the total area under oil palm cultivation in Malaysia is well over 3 million hectares and about 80% of which are in Peninsular Malaysia.
Oil palms are usually felled after the age of 25 years, either due to their decreasing yield or because they have grown too tall which makes harvesting very difficult. For the disposal of oil palm stems, they are normally left to rot or are burnt in the field. However, freshly felled stems with their high moisture content cannot be easily burnt in the field. Leaving the stems in the field without further processing will physically hinder the process of planting new crops as the stern can take about five years to decompose completely. Meanwhile, they serve as the breeding grounds for insect pests such as rhinoceros beetles (Oryetes rhinoceros) and stem rotting fungi Ganoderma spp. The practice of disposing oil palm stems by burning is now considered unacceptable as it creates air pollution and affects the environment. Thus, with the expected large volume of oil palm stem available annually due to replanting, the task of finding ways to utilise this enormous amount of lignocellulosic material is great.
| Attribute name | Attribute value |
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| Book Details | |
| Publication Date | 2005 |
| Language | English |
| Author | S. C. Lim & K. S. Gan |
| Publication Code | TTB35 |
| Pages | 12pp |
